#1 Reason 75% of Organizational Change Efforts Fail & How You Can be Part of the 25% That Succeed
The Casino Career
Gaming Services: A Career In Gambling
The Multi-Billion Gaming Industry
It was a long time before gambling was legalized in the United States. It was not a one time legalization of all gambling games though but a very long process. The legalization process was also different and in various stages for each state. In the end, the government assessed more jobs for employment due to the legalization of gambling. Casino games such as poker, black jack, slot machines were said to be helpful in creating jobs across the United States.
Gaming or the play of various games of chance is reported to be a multi-billion industry that paved the way for the creation of a number of service professions. Gaming can include the usual casino gaming, state lotteries, horse racing, dog racing and even charitable games. The gaming industry created such an impact that it reached the status of an industry. How ironic that an industry that is supported by games of chance could sustain and provide stable jobs for the people.
Almost all workers that cater to the gaming industry are employed in the casinos. These workers have titles and responsibilities that could vary from one casino establishment to another but despite these differences in titles, all workers are basically doing the same thing. Workers could supervise, investigate and conduct surveillance while some of them will be assigned to work directly with the customers or casino players. These workers will perform various activities such as dealing cards or running games, tending the slot machines, handling money and writing or running tickets.
The Gaming Supervisor
The workers mentioned above will not be as organized as they should be without someone to oversee and supervise their day to day activities. This is the job of a gaming supervisor. A casino establishment can have more than one gaming supervisor. Gaming supervisors oversee the operations and workers assigned in a particular area of the casino. They circulate within the area, checking every table available and ensure the fluidity of the games even in the midst of shift changes.
Basically, the gaming supervisors are the workers who usually interact with guests in times of complaints or whenever guests have a hard time to understand the rules or limitations of a particular table game. These people are the ones who toy with ideas or various strategies on how to enliven the atmosphere for the guests while they are staying and playing in the casino. At the same time, they are ready for any inquiries or special requests that guests needs throughout their stay in the casino.
Other Occupations Available In The Gaming Industry
Some of the work occupations available in the gaming industry require a special level of skill. For example, black jack card dealers must be able to deal the cards smoothly and with precision, or else players might think that they are being cheated on the game. The skills indicated here are only useful and unique to casino gaming. Still, other occupations require skills that focus on being able to conduct financial transactions. All in all, these skills are mostly required by workers that are in contact with the guests and players. The workers mentioned above that deals cards or run table games, tends the slot machines, and handles money and tickets will need necessary skills helpful to their trades.
It is worth noting that workers are on shift rotation so each one will experience handling a specific work that will require a necessary skill. Casino establishment usually require their employees to undergo a specialized training that covers the whole casino gaming. In this training, attendees learn to cut a deck of cards smoothly, learn a few tricks with it and be able to deal it effectively along with other special skills.
There are slot key persons assigned in slot key machines that are responsible in overseeing its effective operation and supervising slot key workers. One job of the slot key person is to verify and handle the pay-off winnings of a lucky patron and reset the slot machine or refill its money contents. Another job is to make decisions regarding the repair of the slot machines.
A slot key person must be knowledgeable in different brands of slot machines. They must be able to detect a minor operational glitch in a slot machine and be capable of fixing it. In case of a major operational damage, the slot key person is also the person responsible to decide whether a slot machine needs to be removed from the floor for major repairs. Working in the floor as normal frontline personnel, the slot key persons are tasked to enforce the safety rules of the casino establishment and to report hazards to those concerned.
In operating games such as keno or bingo, there are gaming writers and runners that are tasked to take bets for the game and assist in its operation. These workers operates the device that issues random numbers, announce the numbers selected, pick-up and verify the tickets from the game patrons, calculate and distribute the game winnings.
The gaming dealers, on the other hand, are responsible for the card games such as poker, black jack, craps and roulette. The gaming dealers can be seen standing or sitting behind a table and facing the card game patrons. They will provide the dice and deal the cards to the patrons. During the card game, the gaming dealers will also monitor the patrons for any possible violation of the casino rules. In the card games, the gaming dealers must be highly skilled in their card games and are able to provide excellent customer service, especially in moments when a patron is losing most of his bet money.
The gaming dealers determine the winner of the card game, calculate and pay the winning bet while also collecting the bet money. It is a big advantage for a person that aspires to be a gaming dealer to be competent in at least two card games such as poker or black jack.
5 Skills for Career Success in Budget Hotels
Why? Budget is where the future is.
Thats right, it is the fastest growing segment in the hospitality trade and will continue to expand for time to come.
But that is not where hospitality /service is.
Most of the brands are self-help, good looking motels.
If you walk in with skills you learnt in Hotel Management Schools, you would not only fail magnificently, you may want to go back and strangle some of the faculty.
Here are my 5 skills for career success in Budget Hotels:
1. MULTI-TASKING
more than any other space, this segment, requires and rewards individuals who have the capacity to take on a myriad of roles without the slightest reluctance and hesitation.
2. Think Efficiency
In everything that you do here, efficiency is the key word. Customer happiness/satisfaction will follow, once they are educated enough on what is on offer and what isn't.
3. ABILITY to say NO
I know, you were trained to the 'customer is always right' but this is not where it is to be practiced. This is a mass market and any deviation (customization) costs money. you have to be able to say NO to things that are not available/provided
4. Technology Savvy
If you don't know how it all works together, you will be at sea and without a life jacket. As these brands grow, technology will play a big part in facilitating multi-location issues and guest services
5. Process Management
Everything is laid down in a manual and your job is to learn it, implement it and train it further. don't question, don't try and change these things, just follow them. if it says, one swipe of the rag, then thats it.
Its a space that will give you a chance to take on mega responsibilities at a very early stage/age and you better learn to forget that 14 course meal they were teaching you in fnb classes!!
Careers In The Retail Industry
Today, the retail industry is not just expanding, but it is now more organized compared to the early days. This change has compelled many students to take courses related to the retail industry such as retail merchandising and retail marketing. This rising trend is opening up new avenues for the educated and specialized staff of the fashion industry.
The retail industry is a very big business that has plenty of job opportunities. An experienced person in this field can demand a higher salary. So if you are interested in the retail industry, then you certainly have a bright future ahead of you.
Purchasing Power
There is a sudden increase in customer bargaining power and this is why the retail industry is growing at a phenomenal rate. Most retail companies have a buying team, which is generally responsible for launching a profitable product portfolio that will attract customers. Customers are smart enough to analyze the product price and quality. So as a part of the purchase team you have to bargain and get the best possible price from suppliers. If you are a graduate and you have negotiating skills and some basic floor experience then this is the best job for you.
Merchandising
This is a field of work where you have to work in coordination with the purchase team at the head office. Your task involves controlling the operation of the department, analyzing the past as well as current price trends and also maintaining stock records. As a merchandiser, you will forecast future trends with regards to customers' purchase preferences and also try to figure out competitors' moves. In order to pursue a career in this field, you should be well aware of the retail market and you should also possess sound numerical abilities with good communication skills.
Design
The main job of a designer is to apply the basics of the latest market trends. As a designer you should be able to display your ideas to the buying team so as to attract customers. You have to update yourself with the latest trends by visiting the foreign market, TV shows, design fairs, fashion shows and also closely monitor competitors. To get this job, you should have a degree in textile or fashion; in addition, you should also possess a creative mind.
Wholesale
In this field, the scope is much wider as it also includes the areas such as the merchandising, sales as well as import and export. So as a wholesaler, your function would be to link the manufacture and the retail circulation. To perform this task you must have a relevant degree in fashion with a commerce degree and some experience.
Technology and Production
Technologists are responsible to maintain quality as per the specifications, with all the legal requirements as agreed to with the buyers. This job is for a person who holds a technical degree in the retail field.
The retail field is not as boring and mundane as it once was. So if you have a creative mind, a bit of experience and retail education, you could have a lucrative and rewarding career.
Starting A Career In Another Country
There are few things in the world quite as exciting as moving overseas and trying to get a job. Starting a new career overseas can be difficult but if you follow some key steps it is not half as hard as some would have you believe. The very first thing that you need to do is find out the rules of hiring in this other country. Each country had it own distinct set of regulations, some of these can even vary within a country by state or province. Find out everything before you even start to apply for jobs.
You will find that international resumes are often referred to as a CV. So if you get this word thrown at you, don't worry, it is just a fancy word for resumes
The next thing that you need to do is create your international resume. This is vital to your career success overseas. Without a good international resume you will not stand a chance of getting hired anywhere no matter what your qualifications happen to be. This resume too will depend on to county in which you are searching for a job.
Before you send out your CV make sure that this is really what you want to do. Moving to another country and getting work is a huge step and it is one that is going to cost you a fair bit of money. Do you have the money for all of the moving expenses and the travel expenses? If not then your CV, no matter how good it is will not get you very far. Think about what you are doing and see if it is really what you need to do in order to further your career. There are many ways to make life better and this may or may not be the right choice for you, just make sure that you have thought it through well before you make any big changes.
Maintaining A Balance Between Career And Home
To effectively juggle a job and personal life requires a lot planning in order to ensure that there is as little stress as possible. There is no one solution; people are different and circumstances vary. Guilt drives some people to unreasonable limits until they burn out. This needs to be dealt with before plunging into a lifestyle that includes a job as well as home responsibilities.
Not everyone is designed for this lifestyle, so you need to think about it and weigh the possibilities before making a decision that could change your life.
Family Support
Family support is important in developing a work-and-life arrangement that will prevent one from overcoming the other. Supportive colleagues can also help by making adjustments to accommodate the demands being made on you. However, taking time out to become involved in social activities or other enjoyable activities is useful.
Relaxing from time to time makes stresses more bearable. Keeping priorities and goals at the forefront of your thinking also helps. Career achievements and success always come with a price. Keeping them in perspective is important; otherwise, you may look back and regret later.
When you are striving to live up to expectations, whether at work or at home, you may experience a great deal more stress. This is when it pays to be flexible - know that the world won't come to an end if you have to make some adjustments on either side.
Make Time for Relaxation
Living with the constant pressure of managing more than one role might take its toll eventually if you don't pay attention. Just as it is important to work to your full potential, you have to take time out for yourself. Relaxing and ensuring some private time for you is extremely important to maintaining a healthy state of mind. If you have children, then keeping them on a predictable routine can help to a certain extent, and having time set aside to spend with them can boost your energy levels.
Many employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) to their employees. These programs can be of great help when you feel your work is suffering due to the stress factor or if your personal life is falling apart. EAP programs usually provide access to both work and life counselors and therapists so that employees can head off their problems before they become too large to manage.
Finding and making time for work, life, and sleep can be made simpler if you have the right attitude and make the right choices in life.
Adult Consultants Help You Make a Successful Career
We all face a lot of difficulties in our lives because life is about facing all the challenges. The ups and downs in our lives are enduring as well as relevant. Many times we have to face a series of traumatic situations that leave us with a negative feeling. We feel extremely depressed and sad. We even have to face problems while sleeping and unwanted anxiety. Therefore, the need for an adult consultant arises. The adult consultant can also help you to make a successful career. If you speak with an adult consultant, he/ she will definitely understand all your issues and will try and assist you in order to resolve them. With the support of the adult consultant you can learn various skills. Consultants give a new direction to your life. You are bestowed with the ability of looking at various situations with a diverse perspective with the assistance of a good adult consultancy. Adult consultants make various changes in your life due to which you have a better living quality than before. Many people that suffer from the problem of ADHD require an adult consultant to face their challenges. The adult consultants not only understand their issues bur they also give a direction to their life. The patients bearing up with the ADD needs support and treatment of the adult consultants in order to lead their life like other normal human beings. If you do not have a goal in your life and you do not have a good idea about which to be followed then you can avail aid from the adult consultant services. You can also approach a family consultant, but an adult consultant would be much helpful. You can avail all the information about which paths to follow in order to reach a particular goal. The adult consultants would have a conversation with you and ask all your grievances. They will then scrutinize your issues and suggest you various alternates to solve your problems. If you need any guidance related to your career, you can approach an adult consult. The adult consultant will examine your skills and then inform you about your potential skill, with which you were unaware. They can give you several recommendations with the help of which, you can escalate your own performance and also make a successful career. Nowadays, with the advancement in technology and internet, you can avail the adult consultancy services online also. There are several online adult consultants that offer you free tips on making a successful career. You can also take help of a search engine to find our more and more online consultancy services and accumulate the guidance availed from all of them with the aim of benefitting yourself.
Discovering a Career in Nursing
Nurses provide care and comfort to everyone from infants to the elderly, from basic tasks like changing bed sheets and helping individuals dress themselves to treating patients, analyzing health information, operating medical machines, and providing public education about health care topics.Nursing RolesMultiple levels of nursing give you ample options to develop a nursing career. Nursing aides and assistants do the most basic kinds of work. Licensed practitioner nurses (LPNs) have greater responsibilities such as monitoring medical equipment, supervising aides, and taking samples for analysis. Registered nurses (RNs) are the largest group of health care individuals with more than 2.5 million RNs in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). RNs can create health plans for patients as well as contribute to the current plans. They consult with doctors and other clinicians as well as direct LPNs and nursing attendants. RNs can specialize in a variety of areas such as working with specific population segments or specific diseases and ailments.
The Big Health BoomOne of the main benefits of being a nurse is simply being able to help people heal and overcome disease or discomfort. According to projections by the BLS, over a half of a million new RN jobs will be created between 2006 and 2016. This growth suggests that nurses should enjoy job stability as well as find a range of career options. Because of the recent nursing faculty shortage, there are opportunities for nurses to become teachers. Some hospitals and other organizations offer subsidies for education and signing bonuses to attract nurses.
Prepping for a Nursing CareerHome health aides and nursing aides often only need on-the-job training, but most other nursing careers require a higher level of education as well as certification. RN to BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) degree programs can help individuals get the education they need, and RN to MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) degree programs are also available. Individuals can also continue their education to earn doctorates in nursing (DNP=Doctor of Nursing Practice). Terminal nursing degrees are generally practice-focused or research-focused. The doctorate degree prepares an individual to join nursing faculty ranks or work on health care policy issues in larger organizations.
If helping people heal is important to you, a career in nursing can be a great long-term move to bring you financial stability and personal rewards.
Time To Get On The Career Networking Bandwagon
Networking for your job advancement in your career development path offers big benefits and outstanding career employment advancement opportunities that in most cases would never come your way otherwise.
Why network? Networking in the employment and career field offers the number one source of finding employment and job advancement. It is often stated that the vast majority - estimated as high as 80 - 90 % of jobs are filled inside organizations rather than outside. Generally in life people do not like risk and change. Better to deal with someone you know, can judge and trust. As well someone who recommends a future employee to an organization should have a vested interest in recommending a person who will be of good benefit to that organization. As well it should be noted that the person who does the recommendation has their own self interest to consider in case things do not work out well with the prospective hire.
In fact many employers will pay an employee who recommends a future hire a "finder's fee" or other reward. Better to reward someone in your organization for growth than to reward an outsider such as a commercial "head hunter".
It may be said that sometimes a firm will look outside of the norm to hire someone - especially management to shake the organization to be a "whipping boy". This does occur. However these are not situations where you would place yourself for serious career advancement.
Networking is in actuality the process of developing relationships with people who can assist you with job search strategies and in finding strong job leads. Often people you seriously network with (including those you ask as valued references on your job resumes or applications) will become your best proponents. It should be noted that networking should be distinguished from simple hobnobbing and name dropping.
Networking in its true sense is a sincere, two ways relationship not a shallow one way activity. The distinction can not be stressed enough. If you are unable to comprehend the difference between the two - then this activity of career networking is not currently the right path for you.
The benefits of networking are great. Networking will focus your job choice and career direction. You will be tapping into jobs that you would most likely not have access to otherwise. You should be in a position to gain information and perspective about your chosen industry and firms or organizations that you would not be privy to or be able to comprehend or appreciate the significance otherwise. Specialized information such as industry and geographical trends, job search structure and protocols and hiring processes in your chosen fields will avail itself to you in your employment search.
It is a wonderful trait in interviews to be confident with industry perspectives as well as privileged information about the going ons of firms that you are making job applications for. The biggest percentage of most job interviews is based on preparation before the interview, not during it. Networking will be your best tool for successful pre interview preparation and planning.
As well networking affords self promotion in a socially acceptable manner without bragging rights to those people in the hiring stream who ultimately matter the most to you in your employment search. In effect you are practicing your communication and interviewing skills as you successfully navigate the network streams.
Remember that for all the serious work you do in your job search in the end you never know who can be of the most help to you. Be sincere and appreciative in all that you do.
Best Interviewers are Career Educators
Competent interviewers in the marketplace help you discover the best direction to secure your employer of choice.
Learning about the firm from the interviewer and Internet research is important to your success. Don't be bashful, ask whatever you want to know.
Sure, timing is important but you should have all the details about every career position before you leave the interview.
Hold off the urge to ask about money during the early part of your interview. You probably don't want to appear only interested in CASH rewards, but the answer needs to come somewhere in the process.
If the firm is not able to meet your financial requirements then it's best to keep searching for one that has the potential to make an offer.
Sure, there are many avenues of interest to discover. The first questions that need to be answered are.... can you do the job? Do you have the skills? Talent? Education? Knowledge? Do you have experience already in this field?
Obviously, you have more questions.... assuming you answered YES to our initial questions. Once you have met with the interviewer and he believes you have "what it takes" to do the job, then we can begin to sneak in the important questions... about compensation, benefits, work hours, job assignment, supervision, the title you'll have as an employee, etc.
There's usually an understanding that if you don't ask for "it" upfront [before your new job begins] you may as well forget about "seeing" it in your future.
For example, 2 weeks vacation may be the "norm" but maybe you can negotiate a better agreement with 3,4 or 5 weeks; start other benefits immediately rather than in 90 days.... worth thinking about during the initial interviews with the executive staff or owners.
Leave NO lingering questions ~ ask if you don't know or if you don't understand. A good interviewer wants you to ASK questions about all things important about the career position you are seeking.
If you get rejected or made to feel foolish, then I would think long and hard before hanging my hat with this company.
The real truth about a firm is often hidden, covered-up, or a bad situation not revealed. It's important that you dig deep for any underlying skeletons, bad publicity or press, dishonesty within the ranks, especially at the executive level of the firm or the owners behind the scenes.
Never shy away from diversity, or considering an entirely new position regardless of past "gender" decisions in the past. Women are doing jobs formerly filled by men most of the time and now men are doing jobs "normally" filled by women in the past, i.e. ... wait staff, nurses, secretaries, even the bus boy/girl cleaning tables. are non-gender focused today.
Your focus should be on opportunity not whether it's different from your past experiences in the job market.
Be open to change, new exposures in the business marketplace are happening and offer career choices in every field of enterprise.
Keep your notebook handy, especially when you're interviewing with the competition in your niche industry.
Write down all the questions you are asked, think about your answers, right or wrong, it becomes added ammunition in your own arsenal of Q and A, to have on the very tip of your tongue for an easy response next time around.
Ask for the firms EMPLOYEE MANUAL and any additional "propaganda" advertising or financial reports that may be available in the public eye.
Every firm should be willing to share their history and future goals with you during the interview process.
I'd take the EM and reports home with me and spend a little time reading all the fine print. You may turn up a few surprises that the interviewer overlooked telling you about.
I'd want to know if the company promotes from within or always goes on the outside to look for a new employee.
Think about it! You've got to get promoted to reach your 5 year goals, at least that's my assumption as you find a beginning place to start your climb up the corporate ladder.
In conclusion, let me suggest visiting several local organizations, especially the Chamber of Commerce and others to discover if the firm is a good citizen, do they support local groups, i.e. the United way, the BBB [Better Business Bureau] and there may be other places this firm is well connected to in the community as a good citizen.